LAFC closed their homestand on Tuesday night with a matchup between the best and worst teams in the league. Wayne Rooney made his first visit to the Banc of California Stadium as newly appointed D.C. United manager, opting for an average starting XI which included former LAFC player Andy Najar at right-back.
The Black and Gold was again without Gareth Bale and Giorgio Chiellini due to load management, but Head Coach Steve Cherundolo started the first-choice XI otherwise. After playing his first full 90 minutes since returning from injury at the weekend, Eddie Segura partnered Murillo at center-back again, only four days later.
Game Summary
As has been the case recently, LAFC started the match on the back foot with D.C. United are the ones imposing themselves on the game. Similarly, after the first fifteen minutes or so, LAFC found their feet and began to control possession as well as the game flow.
However, the first half was very choppy and sloppy. There were eight corner kicks in the first 45 along with a host of fouls and set piece opportunities. D.C. United had the best of the chance through a Steven Birnbaum header which Maxime CrĆ©peau came up with a big save to deny. Chicho Arango and Brian RodrĆguez both had chances from close range which they put wide repeatedly. The final product from RodrĆguez was once again missing throughout the match, which has been his biggest problem since arriving at LAFC.
The difference against United was that it wasnāt only Brian who couldnāt finish. The final product was lacking from the entire team. After the Charlotte FC match, I wrote about the lack of threat LAFC provides from set pieces and that was more evident in the first half against D.C. than any other half this season.
It was the same story in the second half until the 60th minute when D.C. United Captain Steven Birnbaum was sent off for a second yellow after a studs-up tackle on the ankle of Kellyn Acosta. Birnbaum described the call as āsoftā, but despite Wayne Rooneyās displeasure with the overall refereeing of the match, even he said he agreed with the second yellow. Immediately after, Rooney brought on Christopher Durkin for Jackson Hopkins in midfield while shifting formation to a 3-4-2 down to 10 men.
Steve Cherundolo opted for a like-for-like swap with Brian RodrĆguez exiting the game for Mahala Opoku in an attempt to increase the quality of the final product. Opoku quickly linked up with Franco Escobar to create the first shot on target of the match for LAFC from Kellyn Acosta in the 64th minute before being the one to finally break the deadlock.
It began with Murillo winning the ball in his own half before ricocheting to Carlos Vela in the center circle. Vela turned into space with Chicho and Mahala ahead of him. He chose to play Chicho, who instead of taking a shot 1v1 against David Ochoa, unselfishly found the pass across to a wide-open Opoku for the tap-in.
When asked to describe the goal Mahala said, āTonight I need to buy (Chicho) dinner!ā Having a striker who scores in bunches (10 in 12 now for Chicho) while also being unselfish enough to pass up a 1v1 for a player with a better shot cannot be praised enough. Chicho Arango has become a top-tier striker in MLS in a short period of time.
Taxi Fountas, D.C. Unitedās only All-Star this season, nearly replied quickly as he banged a shot off the post from about 30 yards out. A poor giveaway from Chicho had left Ilie SĆ”nchez out of position and the space for Fountas, but LAFC escaped unharmed.
Latif Blessing had a chance to put the game away late as Arango played him in behind the United defense with a clever link-up. Blessingās shot was straight at the keeper Ochoa which led to a pinball in the box that ended up going over, however, Latifās shirt was tugged back by Tony Alfaro right before the shot. If Latif Blessing falls to the ground it wouldāve been a stonewall penalty, but instead, he stays on his feet and doesnāt get the call.
Ochoa then came up with another massive save, this time on Arango, to keep it close. LAFC was unable to capitalize on these chances despite D.C. United sending four men forward in an attempt to nick a point late on. It shouldāve been more convincing, but LAFC found the three points, extending their franchise record win streak to seven.
Looking Good
LAFC has the depth to do damage. Once again, it was the LAFC bench providing the winning goal for the best team in MLS. That makes 15 goals by LAFC substitutes this season, matching (ironically) D.C. Unitedās 2016 team for the second-most ever in an MLS season. The 1998 Colorado Rapids hold the first spot with 18 goals by substitutes, another record that LAFC could be looking to break this season.
The versatility of this team is incredible. Since day one, Latif Blessing has been a fan favorite off the field for his joyous energy and generous mentality, but he has also been extremely popular on the field for being the swiss army knife type player that every team needs. He can genuinely play any position bar goalkeeper. This season though, itās not just him.
Steve Cherundolo has always favored a fluid front three with the front line exchanging positions regularly in order to make it more difficult for the opposition to defend, however recently weāve seen even more. Ryan Hollingshead is a perfect example.
Against Charlotte FC once Carlos Vela came off, Hollingshead became a midfielder with the defensive responsibilities of a wing-back. He played it to perfection, rotating with Latif Blessing and wreaking havoc on the Charlotte back line in limited minutes.
Against, D.C. when Vela came off for Blessing, instead of using Latif as a like-for-like swap on the right-wing or shifting formation to accommodate the player, Cherundolo chose to put JosĆ© Cifuentes on the right-wing, a position I donāt think Iāve ever seen him play. He was only there for ten minutes before he came off for Hollingshead who simply took the same position. The ability to successfully insert players into a spot that would normally be considered out of their position is what can separate the good teams from the elite ones.
Areas for Improvement
On the topic of versatility, instead of focusing on a phase of play that needs improvement, I will advocate for an occasional position change for LAFC captain Carlos Vela. Itās no secret that Velaās main position is right wing, while he is also able to play on the left, up top, or in midfield. His signature strike, cutting in from the right before curling a beauty into the top left corner with his magical left foot is something LAFC fans will remember long after Vela is gone, but this season he would be better utilized at the 10 in many cases.
Dropping into the center circle and connecting play on the counter-attack, as he did for the goal in this match, is where Vela has been most impactful. This shouldnāt necessarily be a full-time switch, but one that gives LAFC different options when ball progression or creativity through midfield is lacking, such was the case against D.C.
Player Ratings
CrĆ©peau: 8 Palacios: 8 Segura: 7.5 Murillo: 7 Escobar: 8.5 (MOTM) SĆ”nchez: 7 Acosta: 7.5 Cifuentes: 7 RodrĆguez: 6.5 Arango: 8 Vela: 7 Opoku: 8 Blessing: 7 Fall: 7 Hollingshead: 7.5
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